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FREDERICTON, August 11, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The New Brunswick Human Rights Commission recently demonstrated its political muscle by forcing the government to allow a partner in a same-sex relationship to adopt the other partner’s child. Overriding existing legislation contained in the Family Services Act and the Vital Statistics Act, the decision by the board of inquiry of the Human Rights Commission permits both same-sex partners to be recorded as parents on a child’s birth registration document.  One of the partners filed a human rights complaint, stating that the government was discriminating against her on the basis of sexual orientation and marital status. Alanna Palmer, Chair of the Human Rights Commission, says human rights decisions from the board of inquiry are not subject to appeal. The government must pay damages to the couple and allow registration and adoption in similar cases in the future. Palmer says she doubts a judicial review will be requested: “Our feeling is that the government will abide by this decision.”  For more coverage of this story, see https://nb.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=nb_samesex20040810   Jmo